Richard Hamming

Computer Scientist

Birthday February 11, 1915

Birth Sign Aquarius

Birthplace Chicago, IL

DEATH DATE Jan 7, 1998 (82)

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About

Computer pioneer who discovered a way for machines to correct their own errors. His groundbreaking work led the way to technologies like modems and compact discs.

Before Fame

He had prodigious talent for mathematics from his grade school days, and after a Ph.D. in math he joined the Manhattan Project, working on its cutting-edge atom bomb research during World War II.

Trivia

His methods for finding and correcting single errors in large strings of data became known as Hamming Codes and was first used in digital communication equipment at Bell Labs.

Family Life

He grew up in Chicago, Illinois, his parents Richard J Hamming and Mabel G Redfield.

Associated With

He worked with Claude Shannon and several other prominent mathematicians on the Manhattan Project, who together called themselves The Young Turks.